Troopships QUEEN MARY and AQUITANIA in convoy

Date1943

Object number00045045

NameGlass plate negative

MediumEmulsion on glass

DimensionsOverall: 106 x 81.5 x 1 mm, 25.98 g

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Mike Veness

Terms

DescriptionCunard's QUEEN MARY and AQUITANIA as troopships part of a WWII convoy as viewed from a third vessel.HistoryThe AQUITANIA is the troopship with four funnels. It was was involved in seven convoys from Australia, but only one of those included both QUEEN MARY and QUEEN ELIZABETH, Convoy 11A which departed in July 1941. AQUITANIA in this image is painted grey. When it was carrying troops away from Australia from 1940 to 1942 it always had a had a black hull. This suggests that this photo could have been taken during the final stages of Operation Pamphlet in February 1943, in which AQUITANIA, QUEEN MARY, ILE DE FRANCE and NIEUW AMSTERDAM brought the 9th Division of the AIF home to Australia from Egypt. On the voyage from Egypt to Fremantle the four ships were in line abreast, with AQUITANIA on the starboard wing, then ILE DE FRANCE, QUEEN MARY and NIEUW AMSTERDAM on the port side. It is possible this arrangement was changed for the final sector from Fremantle to Sydney.SignificanceDuring World War II, passenger ships like Cunard's QUEEN MARY and AQUITANIA were transormed forr the use of the war effort. The ships were painted grey and transported troops and prisoners of war.